Earths Production: Earths and World

earths production: China, which refines most of the world's rare earths, has threatened to stop exporting the specialized minerals to the United States, using its monopoly as a cudgel in the ongoing trade spat between the world's two largest economies, according to The Japan Times. The U.S. rare earths industry needs big help to compete against the Chinese, said Jim McKenzie, chief executive officer of UCore Rare Metals Inc., which is developing a rare earths project in Alaska. The move would mark the first financial investment by the U.S. military into commercial-scale rare earths production since World War II's Manhattan Project built the first atomic bomb. ; It comes after President Donald Trump earlier this year ordered the military to update its supply chain for the niche materials, warning that reliance on other nations for the strategic minerals could hamper U.S. defenses. It's not just about the money, but also the optics of broad support from Washington. Responses are due by Dec. 16. RELATED STORIESAustralia sees chance to raise rare earth supply to U.S. as Washington cuts dependence on China The army division overseeing munitions last month asked miners for proposals on the cost of a pilot plant to produce so-called heavy rare earths, a less-common type of the specialized minerals that are highly sought after for use in weaponry, according to the document. (news.financializer.com). As reported in the news.